Today we learned that Naeem Juwan Hanks (aka MC Spank Rock) experienced a serious sudden health problem that will cause him to have to cancel his Studio B performance this Friday.

A STATEMENT FROM SPANK ROCK'S MANAGEMENT:
Naeem Juwan Hanks (aka MC Spank Rock) experienced a serious sudden ailment that resulted in his inability to perform at Coachella this past weekend and will cause him to have to cancel his Studio B rooftop performance in NYC this week. While in Indio, at the Coachella Music festival, he had to endure two emergency room visits (one hour before his set time) that eventually resulted in an actual operation on Monday and he now remains in Palm Springs to recover from this unexpected surgery. Our love and well wishes go his way and our thanks to involved industry peers and fans for their understanding and support.

We wish him the best and hope he feels better soon.

While this unfortunate circumstance is beyond our control, we'd like to offer refunds to those Spank Rock fans who wish to no longer attend due to their cancellation.

Customers who purchased tickets online via Ticketweb will receive an email with refund instructions. Those seeking a refund who purchased tickets at either Other Music or Sound Fix should follow up with Studio B directly using this email: generalinquiries@clubstudiob.com with SPANK ROCK REFUND in the subject.

We hope to see you this Friday with Brazilian Girls, The Rub, Chester French ,Roxy Cottontail, 88-Keys, and more with the debut of Studio B's new rooftop, starting at 9 PM !

"Spank rock isn't real hip hop , it would be disrepectful to have him on the same bill as Rakim.." [Anonymous]

I don't know who wrote the above anonymous comment, but I've had more than one conversation with more than one hip hop fan about the very same thing - "real" vs "hipster" and/or "fake" hip hop. Are Spank Rock and friends "hip hop"? Does it matter? I don't care, but it's always a fun conversation, and I couldn't help but notice the strong prescence Spank Rock and friends have on this year's Rock the Bells festival lineup - a festival that is is, for the most part anyway, about hip hop.

Tickets are on sale for a "Brazilian Girls with Spank Rock , The Rub , DJ Roxy Cottontail" show @ Studio B on May 2nd. Why? Because:

Have you heard...? It's true. Studio B is opening a rooftop garden on May 2, just in time for Spring! To celebrate the event we're planning a blow-out, throw-down featuring Brazilian Girls, Spank Rock, The Rub, DJ Roxy Cottontail and more tba! Tickets on sale today. So come join us as we unveil our Greenpoint oasis.
[Studio B]

Midnight Juggernauts make great dance music. I don't know about their live show though. I heard mixed things about their opening sets for Justiceat Terminal 5. That said, tickets are on sale for a May 9th show at Bowery Ballroom - part of a Coachella-related tour the Australian band is going on with NYC's Shy Child.

Santogold (a nickname she got from a classmate back in the '80's for her sister-girl style) is a project that's all about Santi: new band, programmed beats, tons of reggae influences, an impressive list of producers and collaborators, all spiked with Whites's varying vocal styles. In her new song "LES Artistes" she addresses the way folks tend to front like they're something they're not. "I'm an old school artist," she says. "I don't care about looking the part all the time, and in the modern entertainer world it's all about looking the part. In fact, you don't even have to have anything beyond that. If you look the part then you are the part. I just can't be bothered half the time." [FADER]

Why did it take me this long to post about one of my favorite shows of 2007 - the artist I left CMJ this year feeling most excited about? I don't know. RSVP to see Santogold, White Williams (what else is new), Rapture DJs, and DJ David Bruno - for free tonight (Dec 13) at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. More photos of Santogold at the FADER party (Oct 20, 2007), below....

I saw Lupe Fiasco perform last week - ONE WHOLE SONG (and with a member of Fall Out Boy) at the mtvU awards at Roseland - the same show Spank Rock was drunk at. That's Lupe in the photo above. It was taken by Leia Jospe for BrooklynVegan. So were all the other pictures in this post. More photos of Lupe, Rilo Kiley (played 2 or 3 songs), Annie Lennox (accepted an award), Peter Bjorn and John (nominated, men about town), Spank Rock (played 2 songs), Tokyo Police Club (played 2 or 3 songs, then explored the basement of Roseland with us) & other characters present at the event....

9:32 - (Spank Rock just came to our table and drank the Gothamist Liveblogger’s beer, then demanded I allow him to blog. What follows is exactly what he typed, unedited - obviously - except for asterisks to tone down the naughty words)

i stole a SHEW FRUM ALDO! I’M AT THE WOODY’S BLO0GGERS TABLE. MY DAD’S NAME IS WOODY. NOT JOKING! I TRIEDC TO MAKE OUT WITH TOM DULONGGG. HE WAS INTO IT BUT THERE WERE TOOO MANY CAMAMARERES AROUND. I UNDERSTAND….. I DRANK SOME B*TCH ASS N*GGAS (Ed. Note - That would be Gothamist Guy) BEER. HE AIN;’T DO SH*T. CAUSE I’M GANGSTER. I’M JUST A WILD ASS N*GGA DOING WILD ASS N*GGA SH*T! [Best Week Ever]

He eventually got kicked out, though he did show up again at the afterparty. His scheduled performance was actually just two songs. Santogold (and all the girls you see in the pictures) joined him for both of them. More coverage coming soon. More photos like those in this post, at Last Night's Party.

Spank Rock's antics = way more interesting than who won, but if you're interested......

Amy Winehousenever made it to NYC last time she was supposed to (a lot of times actually). Let's see if she makes it next time - to the 2007 MTVU Woodie Awards taking place at Roseland Ballroom on November 18th. Spank Rockis playing too. More info, and nominees, below....

I couldn't believe it when Ghostland Observatory was headlining (and sold out) Bowery Ballroom, and I couldn't believe it even more when they were the biggest thing ever in the world at Austin City Limits this year - they headlined one of the stages (right before Bob Dylan played on another stage) on the last night of the festival, and you couldn't get within a mile of them - they are HUGE (in their hometown of Austin at least).

I sort of got into them for the first time there too - even though I was tired, couldn't get anywhere near them, etc - I felt like under the right circumstances - it could work out between us....He can sing, and it's definitely danceable. (ok, I like them, I'll say it)

Tickets are on sale for an October 19th CMJ Ghostland Observatory show at Webster Hall.

Santogold is not to be confused with M.I.A., but she is friends with her. She's also friends with Diplo, Switch, Sinden, Amanda Blank and of course Spank Rock. Spank Rock joined her on stage when she opened for Bjork at MSG last week, and then they played together again at the Klaxonsafterparty at Rebel later that night. Santogold's next announced NYC show is October 20th at Highline Ballroom - part of CMJ (a Steve Aoki party).

Three days beforeBjork - Spank Rock was billed as the DJ at an Apple Store in Manhattan (at midnight). Ends up it turned out to be much, much more....

.........a female fan came up on the "stage" and spank rock began dancing with her. nothing extraordinary, just some good 'ol fan participation. this must have been the straw that broke the camel's back for one of the older apple staff. he barged his way through the 10 or so people behind the "stage" to get to spank rock (who was lying on the ground, as he often does during performances). the man grabbed spank rock's leg. when this didn't get the results he was hoping for, the man went after spank rock. the entourage (who were sitting on a shelf behind the "stage") quickly rushed to break it up. water was flying everywhere and a angry spank rock emerged from the pile without his trademark glasses, shirt torn and soaking wet. although obviously furious, spank rock's calm mannered appearance prevailed as he dove off the "stage" into the crowd as if to say 'thank you and goodnight.' after returning to the "stage" he hopped down off the table and walked toward the exit marking the abrupt ending......... [Life's Bathroom]

Bjork's big show at Madison Square Garden in NYC is tonight (Sept 24). The Klaxonsare opening, and so is Santogold - which is BrooklynWhamCityConsistent with Bjork's choice of Spank Rockopening for her last time she was in town. And speaking of Spank Rock and Santogold, they're also both playing the Klaxons-MSG afterparty at Rebel, which (as David Bruno reported) is free if you RSVP. This is also a good spot to mention that the Klaxons are listing a Webster Hall show on October 12th which is "currently not on sale".

I'm supposed to go tonight, but should I? I just saw her at Austin City Limits (she headlined the first day), and probably because I was spoiled from going to all three of her last NYC shows (Radio City, United Palace & The Apollo), I had trouble getting into it (set list here). I was also tired (flew in that morning - was at festival all day), far from the stage, alone, supposed to already be at my own afterparty (which I had no idea how I was going to get to), and in a huge field with thousands of people. I guess I had trouble connecting with the show - like it was just this thing happening on a stage far away that I could sort of hear (I felt that way during Arcade Fire too) (wah, I know). You might have heard that a speaker caught on fire during Bjork's set which was the second fire that day at the fest.

Maybe sitting in a seat at MSG with stadium sound will be better. Do you want to go to tonight? The 30th person to e-mail BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: Bjork) will get a free pair of tickets. Include your first and last name. Tickets are also still on sale.

This Sunday (August 19, 2007) will be the last free party of the summer at McCarren Pool in Brooklyn. Hopefully it won't be the last one ever - you don't have to agree, but whether you want the pool next year to look something like the above video, or something more like the hipster version of Scores - just make sure you let the government know. Only you can make a difference.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL. In addition to Feist/BSS, Modest Mouse & The Chemical Brothers, there will be one more ticketed show at the Pool this September, and it will be a benfit for OSA-Open Space Alliance-the entity most responsible for keeping concerts happening there. The date of the show is September 15th, and the lineup consists of the very talented Mr Jamie Lidell, and sir GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan - and YES, GZA will be performing Liquid Swords from start to finish - like he did at the Pitchfork Festival. Ticket details coming shortly.

Now that I finally got the Best Fwendspost out there, it's finally time for the one about one of their friends - another Todd-P-Baltimore-Wham-City-Dan Deacon-Spank-Rock-Punk band that I've been getting pretty excited about lately - THE DEATH SET.

This is also my chance to finally bring up the water balloon incident...

Last Friday was a show at Glasslands put on by Bikes In The Kitchen. It was a pretty great line-up, with Pterodactyl, Team Robespierre, Best Fwends, and theDeathset. The show was a sweaty good time (very sweaty, perspiration was condensing on the metal roof and occasionally dripping down on the crowd), until a random tragedy hit right at the start of Deathset's set. Some girls thought it would be funny to throw water balloons down on the crowd from the balcony. And it was funny. Until one of them, for whatever possible reason, decided to start throwing them past the band at the back of the stage where all of the amps/speakers/cables/sound equipment was.....[Suckapants on May 28, 2007]

..........

....Meanwhile "Fuck you you fucking fuck" girl decides instead of simply giving me her details it would be a better idea to call the police after first trying to fight me all the time me thinking how ridiculous it actually is that my first fight will be with a girl. Luckily peoples pull her off. So in summary, this girl is not only an imbecile and an idiot, she is also a narc, causing the party to end. The police come and side with me after they hear the story and I tell them I don't want her to be arrested and they advise me to get an attorney which I don't have the first clue about and obviously being in a touring band can not afford. [TheDeathSet - June 4, 2007]

The Death Set have a new (twelve song) EP out this week. It features remixes by Dan Deacon and Bonde Do Role. Tonight (June 22, 2007) and tomorrow they play shows in NYC followed by a whole bunch more shows all over the place. Tonight is going to be especially nuts because they're on a bill with Matt and Kim and Parts and Labor - Above the Auto Parts Store....

Spank Rock, the hip-hop/funk/electro group originally from Baltimore that was the subject of an intense, year-long, behind-the-scenes industry battle, recently completed a four album deal with Downtown Records, the independent label responsible for launching Gnarls Barkley’s platinum-selling debut St. Elsewhere. Formed less than two years ago by former major label talent scout Josh Deutsch, Downtown beat out heavy-hitting contenders like Domino and Atlantic to sign the much-loved underground sensation known for its crafty beats, raunchy lyrics, and raucous live shows. [The Daily Swarm]

I believe all that except the part about Downtown (also the home of Art Brut and Cold War Kids) being independent. In fact, I guess that sort of means Atlantic was fighting itself sort of maybe? Here's more Spank Rock.

I almost wrote that it was the wrong venue for Spank Rock to play, but then I remembered that we're talking about the legendary Apollo Theater here. In fact, even MC's Spank & Pase Rock dedicated their set to the late James Brown who played there many times (even after death). So I guess it could have been a party - actually Bjork was a party - it was just there wasn't really anybody in the place when Spank Rock started, and the people that were, were not about to get up out of their seats and start dancing (actually one guy sort of did).

Wow. What an amazing show last night. After seeing her at Coachella and last night, I really hope that crunchy dance version of "Declare Independence" she rocks at the end of her set gets a proper release. "Raise Your Flag!" would go down well in the clubs. Speaking of da clubs, Spank Rock (who destroyed Coachella on Sunday night) remixed "Earth Intruders."

"Dance music finally has an opportunity. It's kind of hot. I sense something is changing here."

Tricia Romano delves into the comings and goings of the fight against the Caberet Law, Larry Tee's proposed "Dance Music Invasion Festival" in NYC October 3rd through 7th, and the Dance Parade on May 19th (partly to protest the Caberet Law, partly to showcase dance (as in the act of)). Dance illegally this weekend: declare your independence.

Speaking of legality, the recent decision by the FCC's Copyright Royalty Board of Royalty Oversight, Discussion, and Redundancy that hiked up fees for internet broadcasters is being challenged by the SaveNetRadio organization. Internet radio is a crucial promotion vehicle for dance music. Go there and read up. Call your congressperson.

Lots of Justice news this week. After a wild live set at Coachella that featured 45 minutes of cut, chopped, and fuzzed originals and pieces of their remixes, all performed from a Marshall stack stage. The boys have released their video for their massive next single "D.A.N.C.E." Its basically a pretty amazing ad for So Me's work with the Revolver clothing line. If this song isn't on every radio station this summer, I'd be very surprised. All of you PYTs make sure to kick the B.E.A.T. loud. Possibly one of the most anticipated dance albums of the past few years, Justice's † is out on Vice SOMETIME soon?

Justice video, more news, downloads, parties, and other surprises, BELOW....